Sorry I left you on a cliff hanger on that last chapter. I know how aggravating that can be. Here is the next chapter in Andromeda's tale. Enjoy!

Tonks stood up, his pale face flushed.

"You didn't get Bellatrix?" He asked angrily. Dumbledore sighed and turned to Bones, who was watching Tonks curiously.

"Kindly tell Scrimgeour that I will meet him at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement no later than nine tonight." Bones looked like he was about to argue, but he quickly thought better of it. Nodding respectfully to Dumbledore and glancing at the rest of us strangely, he walked out of the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore steadily made his way back to us, stroking his graying auburn beard thoughtfully. Tonks was still on his feet, looking like he wanted to hit something. I was still reeling from the blow; I had assumed that Bellatrix and her followers had already been caught. But if they were still loose-

"Were you not going to tell us?" Tonks practically yelled at the Headmaster.

"Sit down Ted." Dumbledore heavily, seating himself on the bed opposite. Tonks looked like he was battling internally with himself, but finally sat down. Dumbledore turned his sorrowful gaze on me.

"Please understand Andromeda, that I would have told you later. You have already been through so much pain, I did not want to burden you with this information until you had fully recovered."

"How?" I asked, my voice cracking. Tonks looked back at me, his shoulders relaxing and the anger in his eyes dying. Dumbledore looked at his lap, pressing his fingers together.

"How does one explain?" He muttered, his brow creasing. "I despise being the bearer of bad tidings, yet it seems that is the role I play. But I will not deny you the answer." He looked up at me, understanding in his eyes.

"I don't know if you remember, but last night I asked you to tell me the name of the person who tortured you."

"Yes." I said hollowly. "I told you it was Bellatrix."

"You did." Dumbledore agreed. "You were most brave to put aside your own pains and fears to divulge that information, Andromeda. I then proceeded to send patronuses to the Heads of the Houses and to the Minister of Magic, telling them a Hogwarts student had been tortured. Minerva here was the first to heed my call." Dumbledore said, smiling gratefully to Minerva. "She quickly made her way to the Slytherin common room." Dumbledore grimaced at this point, staring directly into my face. "But when she got there, they had already fled."

"Fled?" I asked weakly. "You mean-"

"Half of the Slytherin house, gone overnight!" Professor McGonagall burst out, looking just as angry as Tonks had looked earlier. "Too cowardly to face the punishment for their actions, never in all my years-"

"Thank you, Minerva." Dumbledore cut in, and McGonagall's tirade died away.

"So they left Hogwarts?" I asked, unable to keep from shivering slightly. "Just…gone? How?"

"We don't know for sure yet." Dumbledore admitted. "The front doors were locked, and the Caterwauling Charm placed on them shows no one tried to break through. All other exits have been searched by Mr. Filch already, but none have appeared to be preeched." My hands clamped around the sheets as I processed this new information. Unwillingly my mind flitted to the image of Bellatrix standing over me, triumphantly surveying my broken form. I gasped for air, shuddering. She was now free, free from the restraints Hogwarts had put on her demented power.

"She'll be back." I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. Tonks stared at me in horror, then back at Dumbledore.

"No she will not." Dumbledore said firmly, his usually kind eyes blazing with that protective fury I had seen last night.

"The teachers have been made aware." Professor McGonagall assured me. "We will take extra precautious measures to protect the students from such an attack. The department of Magical Law Enforcement has dispatched aurors to seek out Bellatrix as well as guard the school. Not to mention the school had a few secret defenses of its own."

"And me." Tonks added bravely, looking at me seriously. "I won't let Bellatrix get near you, Andromeda."

"Luckily that won't be needed, though I'm sure Andromeda appreciates it." Dumbledore chuckled. "Any attempt by Bellatrix to infiltrate the school will be stopped before anyone is injured again."

"But what about others outside the school?" I panicked. The emotions I had tried to keep quelled were threatening to override me. "Hogwarts gave Bellatrix boundaries, however much she strained against them. But now she's out there…" I left the thought unfinished. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Tonks stared, finally realizing my true fears. Tonks looked sick at the thought of all Bellatrix would do.

"Aurors are out searching for her as we speak." Dumbledore said, though he looked more solemn than before.

"It doesn't matter." I muttered under my breath. "She read those dark spell books. She'll be able to avoid capture. She'll strike out against every person she deems unworthy. Squibs, muggle-borns, muggles, blood traitors, half-bloods-" I glanced over at Tonks, cringing at my own words.

"And she will try to find me again." I said with utmost conviction. Bellatrix's demented possessiveness of me, the way she used me- she would regret leaving such a valuable pawn after her anger died away. We were inevitably linked, her very existence pulling at mine. I had been her quiet shadow, her timid servant. Knowing my sister, she would not let go so easily.

"I know she will." I added ominously. There was silence as everyone contemplated my dire prediction. Brutus chose this time to paw at my hand, annoyed that the attention had been turned away from him.

"She might try." Dumbledore agreed sadly after a moment. "But she will not reach you. In Hogwarts, you are safe." He stood, showing that the conversation was over. "I suggest you put such grim news behind you for the present time, however." Dumbledore walked over to Professor McGonagall, who still looked troubled. "Let us leave Andromeda to rest and recover." Dumbledore nodded to me, and he and McGonagall left, leaving only Tonks, Brutus, and I in the ward.

For the rest of the evening, Tonks tried to make pleasant conversation with me. I was not in the mood, however. Dark thoughts of my past and future haunted me, and I would not be stirred out of my pensive nature. Madam Pomfrey came in later, scolding Tonks for not telling her that I had awakened. She gave me a few frothing cups of healing potions, each one nastier tasting than the last. After that she brought Tonks and I trays of food. Tonks could have gone and eaten in the Great Hall, but when Madam Pomfrey shooed him away, he had stubbornly stayed, determined not to leave my side. So we ate together. While I picked at my dinner underneath Madam Pomfrey's commanding glare, Tonks ate his ravenously. If only my problems would disappear as fast as Tonks's dinner, I would be carefree within seconds. After Madam Pomfrey went back into her office, I gave the rest of my meal to Brutus, who set upon it happily.

"Andromeda?" Tonks asked carefully, placing his empty tray on the bedside table.

"Do you- do you think I could introduce you to my other mates?"

"What?"

"They came looking for me this morning when I missed the first few classes. It didn't take long for them to hear that I had gone to the Hospital Wing and come hunting me out. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let them in the Hospital Wing, but she told me to go out into the hall since they were demanding to see me. I thought for sure they were going to lay it on me, but they didn't question me much. I suppose they were sorry for me when they saw how bloody terrible I looked. When they asked why I was in the Hospital Wing, I just told them someone I knew was sick. Like I said, when they realized I was serious they stopped goofing around and prying. They didn't even complain when I said I was going to spend the rest of the day there. They've been really good friends, and-" Tonks scratched his neck and sighed, staring down at his lap. "I feel bad keeping them in the dark. Do you think we can tell them now that Bellatrix is gone? Tonks looked at me hopefully.

"I guess there's not a good reason not to tell them." I replied uncertainly. "Are you sure though? I'm- well, I was a Black. Are you sure they wouldn't hold our friendship against you?"

"They aren't that thick." Tonks said stubbornly. "You are more amazing than you give yourself credit for, Andromeda. You can't keep thinking that people will judge you because of your family. I hate hiding things from my mates, and you've been such a big part of my life-" I blushed at his words. Tonks stopped and grinned. "I think you would like them." He said resolutely. "Is it okay if I introduce you to them tomorrow?" I nodded, and Tonks beamed. "That means a lot to me, thanks." He said, reaching over and squeezing my hand. The faint flutter I had felt earlier that day came back to me. For some reason, my thoughts went back to the last time I had seen Tonks outside of the Hospital Wing. We had been together at the lake, sitting in the shade of the beech tree and watching the sunset. We had kissed, and suddenly everything was right-

And then it had gone very wrong.

It seemed like ages ago, that kiss. It was a distance dream, yet I could recall it with livid clarity. I wondered if Tonks had thought about it at all since then. That night after I had left, had he had stumbled around the grounds until twilight, reveling in the memory of us together? And when he found his way back up to the school, passing the Great Hall full of happy students, had his thoughts still been on me? As he lay in bed that night, did he replay the scene over and over again in his mind? Had he questioned the feeling in the pit of his stomach when he thought about me, as did to him? Had he drift off to sleep, a blissful smile gracing his face?

As that happened to him, I had been underneath the school, being tormented to near insanity by the ones I held most dear.

"Andromeda?" Tonks asked uncertainly, his voice suddenly concerned. I bit my lowered lip, trying to keep the tears in my eyes from falling. I should have known I wouldn't have been able to fool Tonks though. He knew without seeing my grief-stricken eyes that I was upset. He edged closer and wrapped his arms around me comfortingly. I welcomed his embrace, leaning my head onto his shoulder. I closed my eyes, and allowed my tears to fall.